SAHC: David Morrison hat-trick sends Castleylons into final
Castlelyons' David Morrison celebrates his third and his side's fourth goal in Saturday's Co-op SuperStores SAHC semi-final win over Blarney at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The most local of derbies awaits in the final of the Co-op SuperStores SAHC after Castlelyons’ goal power made the difference against Blarney at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.
There was some good fortune: Alan Fenton’s delivery from halfway nestled in the side of the net coming up to half-time, providing a cushion as the east Cork side retired with a 2-8 to 0-10 interval advantage.
But, in another sense, they made their luck. Their first goal – the first of three by David Morrison had come after a high ball in had first led to a chance for Anthony Spillane and that came just two minutes after the pair had had efforts repelled.
And yet. Eleven second-half minutes had seen the cushion fully eroded, Mark Coleman’s accuracy from dead balls nicking away Castlelyons’ lead bit by bit as Blarney took advantage of the wind. When Shane Barrett set up his brother Cian on 42, it was 0-15 to 2-8 for the mid-Cork outfit. A final meeting with Bride Rovers beckoned, a fitting denouement to the clubs’ mini-rivalry over recent years.
While Castlelyons had defended well in terms of cutting off the goalscoring lanes, they were struggling for a foothold around the middle. They needed something and Fenton provided it with a long-range free, into the gale. Not long after, Anthony Spillane produced a great catch from a clearance by goalkeeper Jack Barry and added his second point – they were back in the lead and they would not cede it.
A driving run from James Kearney was halted illegally – the 20m free afforded Fenton the chance to put them two ahead, but he gambled. Though his low effort was kept out, Morrison was on hand to pull to the net: 3-10 to 0-15.
However, chances to extend the lead further; memories might have rewound a year to an inability to make it count when on top against Glen Rovers. Coleman once again reduced the arrears before a superb Shane Barrett turnover led to Blarney sub Jerry Murphy tying the game on 56.
If Castlelyons were nervous, they managed to channel it well. Niall O’Leary – who did well on Barrett throughout – and Colm Spillane linked well with Colm McCarthy around halfway and he was fouled, with Fenton again doing the needful – as he would a minute later, having drawn the free himself.
They could sense victory now and it was all but confirmed when Anthony Spillane seized a break and surged goalwards. He spotted Morrison in the middle – as the ball came over, the enormity of what lay ahead was evident to everyone in the ground but the corner-forward took the nanosecond to steady himself before rifling in his third goal of the night and what proved to be the last score.
The defence ensured their sheet remained clean and the ever-industrious Shane Cotter was on hand to make important late plays.
Mark Coleman had Blarney in front inside ten seconds yet Blarney trailed by the end of the first minute as Leon Doocey and David Morrison pointed for Castlelyons. That micro pattern would be repeated more than once: Blarney making a foray only for their opponents to come up with a suitable response.
Trailing by 0-4 to 0-2, Castlelyons would then outscore Blarney by six points to none between the fifth and 18th minutes. Fenton’s free-taking was characteristically on point for Castlelyons during this period and goalkeeper Jack Barry was able to harness the breeze with a point from play following a short puckouts.
What had become a four-point lead was halved when Shane Barrett and Coleman pointed frees but Castlelyons’ goal threat was shown as Morrison had a shot brilliantly blocked by Seán Crowley and Anthony Spillane’s follow-up hit the side-netting.
Just after that, Keith O’Leary’s point effort hit the post and Spillane was again there for the rebound – this time Paul Hallissey saved but Morrison kept the chance alive and jinked past the cover before coming up with a good low finish.
Coleman pointed a Blarney free in response before Fenton’s fortuitous goal left it 2-8 to 0-8. The impact of that concession was lessened with two more Coleman frees before he started the second half in the same vein.
Just when they looked to have got on top, Castlelyons came back again and now stand 60 minutes away from a return to the top tier.
A Fenton 1-8 (0-7 f), D Morrison 3-1, A Spillane 0-2, L Doocey 0-1.
M Coleman 0-11 (0-9 f, 0-1 65), S Barrett 0-4 (0-2 f), C Barrett, D McSweeney, J Murphy, S Mulcahy 0-1 each.
J Barry; D Spillane, C Barry, C Spillane; S Moroney, N O’Leary, C McCarthy; S Cotter, J Kearney; D Tobin, D Morrison, K O’Leary; L Doocey, A Fenton, A Spillane.
E Maye for D Spillane (9-10), Maye for Tobin (41), B Spillane for K O’Leary (44).
P Hallissey; D Murphy, S Crowley, S Mullane; C Power, P Crowley, A McEvoy; O Hegarty, M Coleman; D McSweeney, S Barrett, E Kirby; S Mulcahy, C Barrett, C McCarthy.
C Hegarty for Murphy (49), J Murphy for McCarthy (54).
C Lane (Banteer).
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